The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, cognitive load theory, first proposed by John Sweller in the 1980s, suggests that learning is most effective when instructional designs align with human cognitive architecture. The theory distinguishes between intrinsic load, which is inherent to the complexity of the material, and extraneous load, which is generated by the way information is presented. Intrinsic load cannot be altered without changing the subject matter itself, whereas extraneous load can be reduced through better instructional design. Germane load, a third type, is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material, which contributes directly to learning. Research has shown that when extraneous load is minimized, learners have more working memory capacity available for germane processing, leading to improved comprehension and retention. However, overly simplified presentations may also reduce germane load by failing to encourage deep processing, indicating that an optimal balance is necessary.
❓ Согласно тексту, какое из следующих утверждений лучше всего отражает взаимосвязь между посторонней нагрузкой и обучением?
A. A. Снижение посторонней нагрузки всегда увеличивает релевантную нагрузку, тем самым улучшая обучение.
B. B. Внешняя нагрузка определяется сложностью материала и не может быть изменена.
C. C. Минимизация посторонней нагрузки может освободить рабочую память, но чрезмерно простые конструкции могут препятствовать обучению.
D. D. Германская нагрузка является единственным фактором, влияющим на результаты обучения в педагогическом дизайне.
✅ 正确答案
C. Minimizing extraneous load can free up working memory, but overly simple designs may hinder learning.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first